RI News

3:40 pm

Tue September 17, 2013

DC Navy Yard Shooter Visited Newport in August

The former Naval reservist who on Monday killed at least 12 people in Washington, DC, visited Newport in August.

Two officers responded to the Marriott hotel on America’s Cup Avenue for a harassment incident at about 6:30 in the morning on August 7. According to a police report, Aaron Alexis told the officers he was a naval contractor and travels often.

Alexis said he got into an argument with someone while getting on his flight from Virginia to Rhode Island. Alexis told the officers the other person sent three people to follow him, and keep him awake by talking to him and sending vibrations into his body.

Alexis told the Newport police he had never had a mental episode and didn’t have a family history of mental illness. Newport police say they advised Naval Station police about the incident and shared a copy of their report. Alexis was killed by police during his shooting spree at the Navy Yard in Washington.